Switch-point protector



Feb. 12, 1929.

I. J. KILBURN SWITQH POINT PROTECTOR Filed March 26, 1928 II II I lullATTORNEY Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

UNlTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC J. KILBURN, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN SWITCHPOINT PROTECTOR AND RAILROAD EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF DENVER, COLORADO,

A CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

SWITCI-I-POTNT PROTECTOR.

Application filed March 26, 1928.

This invention relates to protectors for points of railway switches andits main object is to provide a simple device that is read ily attachedto the pivoted points of a switch without fastening means other thanthose used for securing the points together, and which will protect theends of the points against wear by preventing their contact with theflanges of wheels on cars passing through the switch.

It is well known that the points of railway switches wear soonest attheir tapered end portions at which they engage the rails of the track,and that the life of a switch point is for that reason comparativelyshort.

The renewal of switch points involves considerable labor and expense,and by the use of my protectoig'which may be produced at comparativelylow cost and which can be renewed by the mere expedient of loosening andre-applying two or three nuts of the switch, much time, labor andexpense is saved.

An embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in the several views of which like parts are similarlydesignated, and in which,

Figure 1 represents a plan view of a portion of a railway switch,showing the protectors in their operative position on the points of theswitch,

Figure 2, a fragmentary cross-section taken on the line 2-2, Figure 1,and drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 3, an enlarged side-view of the endportion of one of theswitch-points with the protector in place, looking in the direction ofthe arrow A in Figure 2,

Figure 4, a further enlarged section through the protector, apart fromthe switch tongue, on the line H, Figure 3, and

Figure 5, a plan view of the protector in its position against therespective switchpoint,

Referring further to the drawings, the numerals 5 designate the taperingpoints of a railway switch connected as usual by rods 6.

The so-called number one rod 6 is fastened to the points through theintermediary of lugs or brackets 7 that are secured to the points bymeans of bolts 8 at opposite sides of a web 9, and that are fastened tothe rods by the use of bolts 10.

The bolts 8 are, in the present instance,

Serial No. 264,631.

utilized to also secure the protectoron the respective switch-point, aswill now be clescribed.

The protector consists of a bar 12 having, at one end, an inturned head13 which, in practise, engages the free end of the switchpoint 5, andwhich, at its opposite end, is tapered to a sharp edge to facilitate themovement of the car-wheel-flanges from the point onto the protector.

The bar is curved transversely and it has intermediate of itsend-portions, a flange 1d for its attachment to the point. The flange islaterally offset to form a recess for the reception of the upper portionof the lug by which the respective switch-point is fastened to the rod,and the lower edge of the flange is concaved to escape the web of thelug.

The flange has, furthermore, two or three holes adapted to register withthe bolts 8, by which the lug 7 is attached to the point, therebypermitting of fastening the protector to the switch-point by the nuts 15on the ends of the bolts which ordinarily secure the lug.

The protector thus secured in its operative position, lies flat againstthe tread of the switch-point and embraces the upper portion of therespective lug, as best shown in Figure 2. Its head, adjacent the freeend of the point, abuts against said end and not only protects the endagainst wear, but, furthermore, relieves the bolts by which theprotector is fastened to the point, from stress.

The opposite tapering end of the protector merges to the surface of thepoint so as to provide a smooth approach for the flanges of the carwheels from the surface of the point onto that of the protector.

It will thus be apparent that the end-portions of the switch-points areadequately protected against wear by contact of the flanges on thecar-wheels, that the protector is easily applied and as readily detachedand replaced in case of wear or breakage, and that no fastening devicesare required other than the bolts already in use on switches to securethe points thereof to the rods.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. The combination with a railway switch including a point, a rod, and awebbed lug on the rod, fastened to the point by bolts, of a protectorengaging along an end-portion of the point, embracing the lug exclusiveof its 7 Web, and held in place by the bolts of the lug.

I 2. The combination withia switch-point of a protector bolted tothepoint and engaging along an end-portionot the same, the pro- ;tectorhaying a head abutting against the end ofthe point, and the end of theprotector opposite to the head, tapering to the surface of the point. vr V 3. A protector for a'switch-point, coin prising a bar providedwith'arecessed and apertured flange for its attachment to the point andhaving at one end, a head for engagement With 'the free end of thepoint, the opposite end of the bar being tapered to merge toward thesurface of the point.

4. In a railway switch, a switch rail of standard construction, and aprotectiveplate fastened upon the outside of the rail and having a'Wear-edge extending adjacent to and along the tread-surface of therailto be engaged by flanged wheels moving upon the raiL 5. In a railwayswitch, a switch rail of standard construction, and aprotectiveplatefastened upo'n'the outside of the rail and havstandard construction, abracket for the couing a Wear-edge extending adjacent to and alongthe'ti'ead-surface of the rail and beyond the free end of the same, tobe engaged by flanged Wheels moving upon the rail.

(3. In a'railway switch, a switch rail of standard construction, and aprotective plate fastened upon the outside of the rail and hav- "ing'awear-edge extending. adjacent to and along the tread-surface of therail, to be engaged by flan'ged wheels moving upon the rail, the end ofthe protector opposite to that adjacent the free end of the rail mergingto the surface of the rail.

7 .In a railway switch, a switch rail of ISAAC "J. KILBU

